19 Jun 2012

Two new guys join the Chinese party

Palestine and Lebanon seal historic go-through to the semifinals of Asian Beach Games, together with the hosts and Iran

Palestine access semifinals after edging Oman

Palestine made history today by bending current silver-holders Oman to access the semifinals of the III Asian Beach Games, the first time to have managed so in the competition. After a balanced and goal-less first period, the Palestinians seized the second one to hit and seriously wound the Omani in the first minutes. Although Jalal replied, Salem raised the score to 4-1 before the horn.

The panorama turned really dark for Hilal’s side, but their current status could bring them nowhere else than to keep fighting for a place in semifinals. Now it was their turn to attack, and key men Yahya and Hani cut the distance to 4-3 to pump up the expectations in the team’s hearts. The three minutes remaining, though, were not enough to complete the job, and Palestine will now fight for the medals in tomorrow’s semifinals, where they are to take on Iran for a place in the final.

The extra time effort by Al Jaafil sealed Lebanon’s victory over Asian Champions, Japan, in what meant a history-writing episode in the continental Beach Soccer. Moghaddam’s side kept amusing fans and experts in this III Asian Beach Games, and continue their notable run in the competition. The opponent they had today in front was a really tough one, as Japan, despite not having shown their best image in the tournament, banks on some of the most talented and tactically wise players in the continental panorama. Indeed, the Nippon were the ones to take the lead, with two hits in the first minutes, by Komaki and Yamauchi, sweeping them 2-0 ahead.

The two goal difference meant almost nothing to the Lebanese, who, after suffering during the first period, found the way to counteract and level the game back right at the beginning of the second time. Acknowledging the potential and spirit of their opponent, Rui Ramos’ side tried to put again some ground between them with two new hits, thus closing the first period 2-4 ahead. But, again, that new advantage found a new Lebanese reaction, with Mehrie and Al Saleh sending the match to extra time. None of the teams wanted to pull the brake in their quest to semifinals, and that brought danger in both ends. Finally, the menace coming true fall in the side of Lebanon, with Al Jaafil hitting a ball from the halfway line to find Terukina’s net and have his team in the semifinals of the tournament for the first time ever.

The third match in the quarterfinals faced two of the biggest teams in Asia, with defending Champions UAE facing bronze-holders Iran for one place in tomorrow’s semifinals. In such a terribly balanced fight, only one of them could make it to the next stage, and the Persian side was the one to do it this time, upsetting Marcelo Mendes’ team again after their last battle last March, in which Iran snatched UAE the last of the tickets to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011.

Again today, then, the Irani knew how to handle such a difficult combat, and, although the stroke exchange had UAE ahead most of the time, Naderi unleashed a terrific shot in the last seconds of the game to have his team in the fight for the medals as of tomorrow.

China experienced a magic evening today, getting past Syria in their quarterfinals fixture to jump onto the next round, where the fight for the medals begin, and making the crowd crazy with such thrilling spectacle founding a happy ending. The team’s captain, Han, and his left-foot rocket played a leading role in the hosts fiesta, as, after opening the score, he rocketed the last two goals for Ongaro’s side to certify their qualifying to semifinals. The enthusiastic display of the hole team on the sand, and the efficient defense they have been banking on since the beginning of the tournament were again today the features making possible that great achievement for the hosts, who will now take on Lebanon (20:00 h) in this following stage.